How is a Pelvic PT exam different from a gynecological exam?

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Five years ago, Dr. Bri Wyatt had her life planned out: become a physical therapist and work with athletes.

“I played Division 1 softball through college,” she said. “I loved athletes. I loved training them.”

Everything was on track…until about four months after she graduated with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy.

“I had my gall bladder and appendix removed.” Dr. Wyatt shuddered at the memory. “And
during my recovery, I developed a pelvic floor dysfunction.”

The pelvic floor, Dr. Wyatt explained, is a group of muscles near the pelvis that supports bowel, bladder, and sexual functions. When things go wrong in the pelvic floor, it causes issues with going to the bathroom and sexual intercourse—and even more complicated conditions like prolapse, when internal organs fall out of the body.

“It really ate its way into my life. Urine leaked out of me at the gym. I couldn’t have sex with my partner, and our relationship suffered tremendously.”

Pelvic floor dysfunctions like Dr. Wyatt’s affect one in three women, but because the topic can be uncomfortable to discuss, most people suffer in silence.

With her medical background, Dr. Wyatt knew exactly what she needed: a physical therapist specializing in the pelvic floor, who could look at her pelvic muscles and figure out why they weren’t being as supportive as they should have been.

But it wasn’t that easy. “Pelvic floor therapy is a subset of physical therapy,” said Dr. Wyatt, “but very few therapists are specially trained in pelvic floor.”

So she decided to get certified herself.

“I started my training and immediately realized working with athletes was not what I wanted to do. I was super passionate about pelvic floor.”

Now Dr. Wyatt is one of the only trained pelvic floor physical therapists in Southwest Florida.

“Personally experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction has helped me connect with my patients,” she said.

Dr. Wyatt also explained how her work differs from the yearly pelvic exams most women
receive from their gynecologists.

“The gynecologist is looking at your reproductive organs; I’m looking at the muscles. I make the internal exam it as comfortable as possible. I do not use stirrups. I do not use a speculum. I take a lot of time to get to know the person in front of me, and why exactly they are here.”

Who should come try pelvic floor therapy? Just about everyone, according to Dr. Wyatt.

“Leaking urine, constipation, pain with penetration, visiting the bathroom every hour…these are all things that can often be fixed with pelvic floor physical therapy.”

She put a special emphasis on mothers. “Come see me if you’ve had a baby. The pelvic floor change so much when you are pregnant, even if you don’t deliver vaginally. Some people don’t notice symptoms until their second or third pregnancy, but the earlier we can address things, the better.”

To learn more about how Dr. Wyatt keeps Southwest Florida active and pain free, visit
www.BridgingTheGapPT.com or call 239-676-0546.

To learn more about Bridging The Gap Physical Therapy go to: http://www.bridgingthegappt.com/

Bridging The Gap Physical Therapy
28410 Bonita Crossings Blvd Suite 110
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
(239) 676-0546